Four-year-old Joseph’s use of aggressive behavior has been a challenge for the past month. Just yesterday he kicked and injured a classmate on the playground, and unfortunately these types of incidents have become more frequent. His teacher, Arlene, has discussed the problem with his parents and has been developing a plan with her coteacher and director to help him channel his energy and emotions in more positive directions. Arlene was glad when Joseph’s mother, Victoria, stopped by the classroom recently, but Arlene didn’t know how to respond when Victoria reminded Arlene how important it is to her and her husband that Joseph behave in school. Victoria asked Arlene to report to her immediately if Joseph misbehaved so that they can punish him. Arlene is concerned about this request because she suspects that this family’s approach to discipline is quite harsh, based on her previous conversations with Victoria and her observations of how the family interacted during a recent supper held at the school.

To resolve this dilemma, follow Steps 1–6 as presented in the March column. When you have completed your analysis and come up with a proposed course of action for Arlene, send an email to the coeditors. Include your recommendation and a brief description of how you combined the Code (and, if necessary, the Supplement for Program Administrators) and your professional judgment to reach this resolution.

About the Authors

Stephanie Feeney, PhD, is professor emerita of education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has served on the governing boards of NAEYC and the National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE). She has written extensively about professionalism and ethics and since the 1980s she has been involved in developing and teaching the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. feeney@hawaii.edu

Nancy K. Freeman, PhD, is professor emerita of early childhood education at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. For many years she chaired the Governor’s Committee on the Regulation of Child Care Facilities, has served as president of NAECTE, and was recognized as the 2012 Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Educator by NAECTE. nkfusc@gmail.com

Proposed resolutions to this dilemma are accepted until April 28, 2014. The analysis of this dilemma will appear in the September 2014 issue.

Send Us a Dilemma

We hope you will share with us an ethical dilemma you have encountered in your workplace to be considered for presentation in this column. Send a short (400–500 words) description of the situation to the coeditors. Be sure to use the subject line “NAEYC ethics.” Contact the coeditors by email: Stephanie Feeney at feeney@hawaii.edu and Nancy K. Freeman at nkfusc@gmail.com.